Power driven reciprocating massaging device



P. E. RUUSKA April 1 1,

POWER DRIVEN RECIPROCATING MASSAGING DEVICE Filed May 22, 1964 PAUL E.RUUSKA INVENTOR.

' PEG-.4

ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,313,296 POWER DRIVEN RECIPROCATINGMASSAGING DEVICE Paul E. Ruuska, Medical-Dental Bldg, 509 Olive Way,Seattle, Wash. 98101 Filed May 22, 1964, Ser. No. 369,556 4 Claims. (Cl.128-51) This invention relates to massaging devices. More particularly,the invention relates to mechanically driven massaging devices designedfor local massaging of the human body.

It is the principal object of this invention to provide a power operateddevice for causing reciprocal movement of a massaging element. Thedevice is placed in supporting position on the patients body adjacentthe area to be massaged and the massaging element of the device isengaged with the flesh of the area to be treated only when the massagingelement is moving in the direction of flow of blood toward the heart.

It is also an object of this invention to provide the device of thisinvention with a frame structure reciprocally mounting a rack bar whichis equipped with a massaging roller; said bar being reciprocallyactuated by a geared driving connection with a reversible electric motorand automatically controlled by reversing switch means in the deliveryof current to the motor.

Further objects and advantages of the invention reside in the details ofconstruction and combination of parts of the device and in its mode ofuse and operation as will hereinafter be fully described.

In accomplishing the above mentioned and other objects of the invention,I have provided the improved details of construction, the preferredforms of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein-FIG. 1 is a side view of the present massaging device, with a portion ofits housing or frame broken away for illustrative and explanatorypurposes.

FIG. 2 is a forward end view of the device with parts broken away forbetter understanding and explanatory purposes.

FIG. 3 is a front elevation view of a different form of massaging rollerdesigned for use with the device.

FIG. 4 is a front elevation view of still a different form of massagingroller and an alternative roller mounting means.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

In FIG. 1, the present massaging device is designated in its entirety byreference numeral and it is therein illustrated in its application fortreatment of the localized area on a portion of the arm 12 of a patient.

In its present form of construction, the device 10 comprises a housing14 of rectangular, box-like form that is equipped on its top side with ahandle 15 and on the bottom surface of its lower wall with a resilientpad 16 to prevent discomfort during use of the device.

Mounted horizontally in and extending longitudinally of the housing 14is a rack bar 18 that is reciprocally contained in guideways 1919'formed through the front and rear end walls, respectively, of thehousing so that the rack bar extends forwardly and rearwardly from thehousing, as seen in FIG. 1. At its forward end, the bar 18 mounts a yokeor cross-arm 20 with downwardly and forwardly directed legs 2121. Aresilient concave massaging roller 22 is rotatably mounted by' andbetween the legs for rolling contact with the area to be treated.

The rack bar 18 is formed with teeth 18a along its lower edgesubstantially to its full length and the bar is adapted to bereciprocally actuated by a driven gear 23 that is operatively meshedwith the toothed rack. The gear 23 is fixedly mounted on a drive shaft24 which ex- 3,313,296 Patented Apr. 11, 1967 tends from a gearreduction unit 25 mounted on and driven by an electric motor 26. Themotor is partially contained in a mounting socket 27 formed in thehousing 14 as illustrated in FIG. 2.

Automatic reversal of the motor is effected as the rack bar reaches tothe end of its reciprocal movement in opposite directions. This changeof direction of the motor and resulting movement of the rack bar iseffected through engagement and actuation by the opposite ends of thebar with the circuit reversing switches 28 and 29 that are mounted,respectively, adjacent the guideways 19-19 on the front and rear wallsof the housing. The switches are actuated by the contact therewith ofshouldered opposite end portions 18b and 18c of the rack bar incident tothe bar reaching the full distance of reciprocal travel in eitherdirection.

Assuming the present device to be constructed as described, its use isas follows: Assuming, for example, that the top area of the patients armabove the elbow is to be treated. The padded base 16 of the housing 14is rested against on the arm adjacent the area of treatment with themassaging roller 22 engaged against the arm for rolling travel acrossthe area to be treated. The operator holds on the device by means of itshandle 15 in proper position and with a desired degree of pressure onthe roller. The starting of the motor effects the reciprocal actuationof the rack bar 18 through the reduction driving gearing and with thefull travel of the bar 18 in either forward or reverse direction, thedirection of movement of the rack bar is reversed as a shoulder 18b orengages the reversing switches 28 or 29.

For proper massaging, the massaging pressure or action is always in thedirection of flow of blood through the veins toward the heart.Therefore, assuming the device is being used to massage the upper arm,the device is positioned with the pad on the upper arm adjacent theelbow. As the rack extends toward the patients shoulder, the roller iscaused to engage the flesh of the patient and the device is tipped bythe aperator toward the direction of movement of the roller so that apressure is applied by the roller as it moves toward the patientsshoulder. When the rack reaches the end-of its movement toward thepatients shoulder, the shoulder 180 of the rack bar will engage theswitch 29 and thereby cause the motor and rack bar to move in theopposite or retracting direction. During such movement in the retractingdirection, the operator will tilt the unit rearwardly so that the rolleris raised or moved upwardly out of engagement with the arm. When theshoulder 18b of the rack bar engages switch 28, the roller is againcaused to engage the arm and the cycle is repeated for as many times asdesired prior to moving to another location on the patients body.

Electrical current is supplied to the motor 26 by means of aconventional electric cord 26a.

The roller may be of any desired material but it is preferred to use asemi-resilient material with a non-abrasive surface coating, so as toeliminate skin irritation. The material from which the rollers are mademay vary depending upon the extent of treatment or location on the body.

It is anticipated that the selection of a massaging roller of properconfiguration may be made to best suit the area under treatment and Ihave illustrated two alternative designs or configurations in FIGS. 3and 4, which are designated 22a and 22b-22b, respectively. In FIG. 4, Ihave illustrated an alternative form of roller mounting wherein the bar18 terminates in two stub shafts 3tl30 which project at right anglesfrom opposite sides of the bar. In this construction, a two piece roller22b- 22b is employed. This construction and roller mounting has anadvantage in that no metal is protruding to engage and irritate theusers skin.

A massaging device of the character and mode of operation hereinbeforedescribed will provide improved and desired massaging similar to thataccomplished when using the hands but the use of the device makes thetreatment relatively elfortless for the person administering thetreatment. Also, it will give a more uniform treatment which will bebeneficial to the patient.

I have illustrated and described a relatively simple and uncomplicateddevice to produce the desired results, however, it will be readilyunderstood that changes in the details of construction of the device maybe made without departing from the teaching of my invention. It is alsopossible that the device could embody vibrating means if such is deemeddesirable. Also, other mechanical constructions may be employed forreciprocating the bar and roller.

What I claim as new is:

1. A portable device for massaging the human body comprising a housing,a reversible motor in said housing, a movable bar mounted in andextendable from opposite ends of said housing, means interconnectingsaid motor and bar for longitudinal reciprocal movement of said bar, amassaging roller mounted at one end of the bar for rolling contact uponthe area to be massaged, said housing being relatively small andportable and adapted to be positioned and firmly held on the bodyadjacent the area to be massaged.

2. A massaging device as in claim 1 including two switches, one of saidswitches being mounted on each of the opposite end walls of said housingand interconnected with said motor, said switches being so positioned tobe engaged by means on said bar incident to the travel of the bar to itsextreme movement in one direction whereby the direction of rotation ofthe motor is reversed when a given switch is engaged.

3. A massaging device according to claim 11 wherein said housing isprovided on its bottom surface with a resilient pad for resting upon apart of the patients body during use of the device and is equipped withon the top thereof with a handle for placement of the device in positionof use.

4. A massaging device according to claim 1 wherein the bar is formed atone end with a yoke with spaced downwardly extending arms and saidmassaging roller is rotatably mounted by and between said arms.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,128,790 8/1938Barbour 128-52 2,320,261 5/1943 Bulfalow 128-57 2,441,686 5/1948 Cohen12841 ROBERT E. MORGAN, Acting Primary Examiner.

RICHARD A. GAUDET, Examiner.

L. W. TRAPP, Assistant Examiner.

1. A PORTABLE DEVICE FOR MASSAGING THE HUMAN BODY COMPRISING A HOUSING, A REVERSIBLE MOTOR IN SAID HOUSING, A MOVABLE BAR MOUNTED IN AND EXTENDABLE FROM OPPOSITE ENDS OF SAID HOUSING, MEANS INTERCONNECTING SAID MOTOR AND BAR FOR LONGITUDINAL RECIPROCAL MOVEMENT OF SAID BAR, A MASSAGING ROLLER MOUNTED AT ONE END OF THE BAR FOR ROLLING CONTACT UPON THE AREA TO BE MASSAGED, SAID HOUSING BEING RELATIVELY SMALL AND PORTABLE AND ADAPTED TO BE POSITIONED AND FIRMLY HELD ON THE BODY ADJACENT THE AREA TO BE MASSAGED. 